Sunderland vs Fulham Predictions

• Both teams have scored in eight of Fulham’s last 10 games
• Both teams have scored in eight of Sunderland’s 14 home games this season
• Kevin has scored three goals in his last seven appearances for Fulham (three starts)

Xhaka is still a big miss for Black Cats

Sunderland entertain Fulham in a mid-table Premier League clash that ought to provide more goalmouth action and incident than the pair’s first meeting this season at Craven Cottage. Fulham earned a deserved 1-0 win thanks to a late Raul Jimenez goal in that one to ease relegation fears and they are still two points behind the 11th-placed Black Cats, despite a good run of form since then.

It’s surely no coincidence that Sunderland’s recent slide down the table has come when Granit Xhaka is sidelined by an ankle injury. Regis Le Bris’ side have lost three of their last four Premier League games without him and the Swiss midfielder is expected to miss a sixth consecutive game on Sunday.

Much of what he does is rarely reflected in the post-match stats, but Sunderland’s win ratio is 39% when he plays and only 33% when he doesn’t. The Black Cats have lost only once at home all season – to Liverpool a fortnight ago – so may still be able to claim a point against an inconsistent Fulham outfit.

Both teams to score on Wearside

Marco Silva’s men have also lost three of their last four in the league, albeit one was thanks to a cruel stoppage-time goal at Old Trafford. Kevin entered the fray to launch their comeback from two goals down in that game and he also impressed in their FA Cup win over Stoke last weekend.

The Brazilian’s problem is that Samuel Chukwueze has been keeping him out of the side, but the former Shakhtar Donetsk star is in good goalscoring form and could be a threat off the bench on Sunday.

But the main bet recommendation here is for both teams to score, which has been a common occurrence in recent Fulham matches. The majority of Sunderland’s home games this season have also seen goals at both ends and Xhaka’s absence weakens their defensive structure.